Intravenous catheter apparatus with catheter telescoped on outside of puncturing cannula

ABSTRACT

An intravenous catheter assembly in which a separable gripping hub integrates a rigid cannula and flexible catheter for retaining them against relative movement during a venipuncture and permitting relative longitudinal movement after the flexible catheter has been in place and the cannula is to be withdrawn; the gripping hub including hinged jaws and a circumferential pressure band; a base plate and separate clamp parts; and a transverse clamp plate; the latter gripping heads including means for gripping a flexible protective sheath; the cannula being connected at its rear end to a flexible, withdrawing wire, and a protective rigid housing into which the cannula is withdrawable while the flexible sleeve protects against contamination of blood etc.

United States Patent [n1 3,592,192

[72] Inventor Andrew llarluttlllehn 2909.825 7/1935 Wappler 128/349GardenmC-II. 3,444,860 5/1969 Harrell 128/349 [2!] Appl. No. 645.6553.515.137 6/1970 Santomieri r. 128/2144 :xs Primary Examiner-Dalton LTruluck n Assign mm! H I pp Coma Auomeysl,arry Ni Barger and Robert T.Merrick [54] ABSTRACT; A n intravenous catheter assembly in which aPUNCTURING CANNULA separable gnpplnghub integrates a rigid cannula andflexible 24 Chills, 12 Drawing Figs. catheter for retaining themagarnstrelatrve movement during a venipuncture and permittlng relatlvelongitudinal movement [52] US. Cl 128/2l4.4, after the fl ibl catheterhas been i P|ae and the cannula i 123/348 to be withdrawn; the grippinghub including hinged jaws and a [51] Int. Cl Afilm 5/00 i fe tialpressure band; a base plate and separate 1 selrd' clamp parts; and atransverse clamp plate; the latter gripping 22L 349 heads includingmeans for gripping a flexible protective Edema CM sheath; the cannulabeing connected at its rear end to a flexible, withdrawing wire, and aprotective rigid housing into UNITED STATES PATENTS which the cannula iswithdrawable while the flexible sleeve 3,537,451 l 1/1970 Beck et al.l28/2 l4.4 protects against contamination ofblood etc tIf/l/ PATENTEUJULIBISTI 3,592,192

SHEET 1 [1F 2 FIG. I.

nv VEN ran AIM/PH! Ill/9A0 MAT/M A T TOR/VE Y INTRAVENOUS CATHETERAPPARATUS WITH CATHETER TELESCOPEI) ON OUTSIDE OF PUNCTIJRING CANNULA Myinvention relates to an intravenous catheter apparatus for inserting aflexible venous catheter into a paticnt's vein. These flexible venouscatheters are often inserted into a patients vein so he can move his armwithout a rigid cannula gouging into his vein.

There are basically two types of intravenous catheter apparatus. One hasthe flexible catheter on an outside surface of the puncturing cannulaand the other has the flexible catheter fed down through the cannulasbore. The present invention deals with the former type while a separateapplication filed on even date entitled Intravenous Catheter Apparatuswith Catheter Telescoped Inside Puncturing Cannula" relates to thelatter type.

In the past, intravenous catheter apparatus of the former type (catheteroutside cannula) required a rigid puncturing cannula or stylet whichextended along the entire catheters bore to an enlarged handle or hub ata rear of the cannula or stylet. The nurse or physician made thevenipuncture by pushing against this rear hub or handle. Thesecatheter-cannula combinations were limited in length to about 3 Viinches because a longer cannula or stylet would bend too easily and washard to control when making the venipuncture. This type of apparatus hassometimes been called an intravenous needle" because it was basically astandard hypodermic needle with an intravenous catheter or sleevetelescoped over the needle.

In my invention, I have provided a flexible catheter that fits over arigid puncturing cannula, which catheter can be considerably longer thanthe cannula. The cannula has a long flexible wire connected at its rearend for pulling the cannula out through the catheter bore aftervenipuncture. Hence, my catheter can be of any length desired, forexample 8 or 9 inches long. Some doctors prefer to have a long catheterin a patient's vein because the intravenous solution flushes into thevein at a considerable distance from the puncture point and decreasesthe chance of chemical phlebitis at the puncture point.

For making the venipuncture, the operator applies axial force to agrasping hub which squeezes the catheter against the cannula. After thevenipuncture has been made the hub splits apart so it can be removedfrom the catheter.

My invention can be better understood with reference to the variousembodiments of my invention shown in the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the intravenous catheter apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the intravenous catheter apparatusshowing the catheter inserted into a patients vein;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of thecatheter-wire-cannula combination with the cannula pulled out of thecatheter;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side elevational view ofa first embodiment of mysplit hub;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of this first embodimenttaken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of this first embodimenttaken along line 6-6 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view ofa second embodiment of my split apart hub;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of this second embodiment showing aremovable cam locking member;

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of this second embodiment hub;

FIG. 10 is atop plan view ofa third embodiment of my split apart hub;

FIG. II is a side elevational view of this third embodiment hub; and

FIG. 12 is a front elevational view of the third embodiment hub.

Referring to these drawings, the intravenous catheter apparatus of myinvention includes a rigid puncturing cannula I with a pointed endprotruding slightly from a forward end 3 of a catheter 2 telescoped onan outside surface of this cannula.

The cannula l is considerably shorter than the catheter 2 and has aflexible wire 5 with one end attached to the cannulas rear end. Thiswire extends through a bore of the catheter and has a handle 6 on anopposite end. After a venipuncture has been made, the nurse or physiciancan pull on wire 5 and remove the cannula from the catheter leaving onlythe long flexible catheter in the patient's vein. As he is pulling outthe cannula, a flexible inner sheath 7 connected between the catheterand wire 5 encases the wire which might have blood on the cannula andprotects him from contamination.

Inside flexible sheath 7 is a cannula housing 18 which is removablyattached to an outside of a hollow adapter 15, which adapter has atapered inner surface 16 for attaching to an administration set. Thiscannula housing protects the cannula which also might be covered withblood as it is withdrawn. As the operator pulls out the wire, a shoulder25 at a rear of the cannula abuts a closure 20 across the cannulahousing's mouth I9. This closure 20 has an opening 21 that is largeenough for wire 5 to pass but not large enough for cannula I to pass.Thus, the operator by pulling on wire 5 can pull the entire cannulahousing 18 from hollow adapter 15 so this adapter can receive anadministration set or a plug I7. FIG. 3 shows closure 20 crosshatched ina plastic material with a molded opening 21. The closure could also beof a rubber material with wire 5 threaded through it.

In the foregoing description of the catheter-wire-cannula combination, Ihave used the term "wire" to describe an elongated flexible member usedto pull out the cannula. While metal is often associated with the term"wire, I do not use wire in this limited sense. A metal wire has workedvery satisfactorily in my invention but the wire could also be of amaterial other than metal. For instance, it could be of a thermoplasticmaterial with a high tensile strength. An important thing, however, isthat the wire is flexible. The catheter-wirecannula combination is rigidalong the length of the cannula but is flexible rearwardly of thecannula. Hence, if an operator laterally moves the flexible rearwardportion of the catheter wire-cannula combination while making thevenipuncture, this movement is not transmitted to the rigid portion. Theoperator has full control when making the venipuncture through his graspon hub 9 which surrounds the rigid portion of the combination.

In the drawings, I have shown three hub embodiments which grip thecatheter and cannula together for the venipuncture. The first embodimentis shown in FIGS. 4, S and 6; the second embodiment in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9;and the third embodiment in FIGS. I0, I] and 12.

The first embodiment (FIGS. 4-6) has a sheath receiving portion 10 whichhas a rigid lower jaw 11 attached thereto and also has a hinged top jawI2 attached thereto. These jaws have opposed gripping surfaces inlongitudinal grooves 26 and 27 which squeeze the catheter against thecannula. A removable rigid band I3 can be used to hold the jaws ingripping relationship during venipuncture. After the venipuncture, thehub is opened up as shown in FIG. 4 and is pulled back over the catheterwith the hollow adapter 15 passing through the large catheter opening 24in sheath receiving portion II]. The rigid band I3 can likewise bepulled rearwardly off over the catheter.

The second embodiment (FIGS. 7-9) has a base wall 30 with a pair ofupstanding arms 31 and 32 on opposite sides of catheter 2. A lid 33pivotally connects to these upstanding arms through pivot shafts 34 and35 which fit into pivot pockets in these arms. Numeral 36 denotes thepivot pocket in arm 31, and there is a like pivot pocket in arm 32.

This lid 33 swings longitudinal towards base wall 30 and a portion 37tightly clamps the catheter and cannula against base wall 30. Holdingthe lid 33 and base wall 30 in this gripping relationship is a cammember 40 which pivot shafts 41 and 62 that removably tit into pivotpockets in a second set of upstanding arms 38 and 39. Numeral 43 denotesthe pivot pocket in arm 38 and 39 has a like pivot pocket. To open thisembodiment of my hub the operator pulls up on a handle of cam member 40to release the cam pressure on lid 33. After removing cam member 40 hethen swings open lid 33 and pulls ivot shafts 34 and 35 out of the pivotpockets in upstanding arms 31 and 32. This lets the base wall 30 andupstanding arm portions of the hub slide out from under the catheter.

Another feature of this second embodiment is the way an outer flexiblesheath 8 is held to the hub. On each side of catheter 2 are cavities 44and 45 in base wall 30 which can extend completely through the base wallif desired. Cooperating with these cavities are lugs 46 and 47 on lid 33which push the flexible outer sheath 8 into the cavities where it isretained. When the lid is removed to release catheter 2, itsimultaneously releases outer sheath 8.

The third and final hub embodiment (FIGS. l-l2) has a base wall 50 alsowith upstanding arms 53 and 54. Here, how ever, the lid 55 is hingedlyconnected to one arm 53 and transversely swings across the catheter togrip it to base wall 50. An opening 56 in lid 55 receives a catch means57 on upstanding arm 54 to lock the lid against the catheter andcannula. As in the second embodiment, lugs 60 and 6! cooperate withcavilies 58 and 59 to simultaneously grip the flexible outer sheath 8.

The three hub versions described above can be made of various materials.However, the first and third embodiments are preferably made ofpolypropylene plastic with an integral Jolypropylene hinge between thejaws of the first embodiment and between the lid and upstanding arm ofthe third embodi nent.

Having explained the structure of the various embodiments )f myinvention, we now turn to a brief description of how it is ised. First,the operator takes the intravenous catheter apiaratus as shown in FIG. 1and makes the venipuncture. Next, ie pulls off band 13 (or removes cammember 40, or releases :atch $7) and opens up the hub to releasepressure on cannula I. Then he pulls out wire which retracts cannula land pulls iff the cannula housing. Preferably, wire 5 is pulled back by;t'35ping handle 6 through flexible outer sheath 8. However, if iesired,a perforation 14 can be provided so a rear portion of lexible outersheath 8 can be removed to get a good grip on iandle 6. After thecannula 1 has been retracted, he removes he flexible outer sheath 8 andhub 9 from catheter 2. He can emove them separately by pulling flexibleouter sheath 8 off if hub 9 or he can remove them while the sheath andhub are till connected together. Finally, all that remains is an elon-;ated flexible catheter in the patients vein. There is no rigid annulathat can cause injury to him.

In the foregoing specification, l have described my invenion usingcertain specific embodiments. It is understood that lersons skilled inthe art can make modifications to these emlodiments without departingfrom the spirit and scope of this nvention.

I claim:

I. Intravenous catheter apparatus comprising:

a rigid puncturing cannula;

a flexible catheter telescoped on an outside surface of said cannula;

a removable hub circumposed about said catheter and including aseparate, displacable mechanical griping means on said hub for urgingthe hub and catheter to a fixed relation to at least a portion of thecannula and circumferentialiy squeezing the catheter against the cannulato continuously prevent relative longitudinal movement therebetween,said hub having opposed separable gripping surfaces displacable fromeach other upon displacement of the mechanical gripping means andrelease of the circumferential squeezing by said mechanical grippingmeans to permit relative longitudinal separation of the catheter andcannula; and a flexible sheath attached to said hub for protecting thecatheter portion which extends rearwardly beyond said hub.

2. intravenous catheter apparatus as set forth in claim I, wherein thehub includes a pair of hinged jaws having gripping surfaces in opposedlongitudinal grooves in the jaws.

3. Intravenous catheter apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein thehub is of polypropylene and has an integral polypropylene hinge betweenthe jawsv 4. Intravenous catheter apparatus as set forth in claim 1wherein the hub includes a sheath-receiving portion which has an openingextending therethrough for passage of the catheter, saidsheath-receiving portion having a bottom jaw of the hub rigidly attachedthereto and said hub having a top jaw hingedly attached thereto on atransverse, chordally-disposed integral hinge portion, said top andbottom jaws having gripping surfaces in longitudinal opposed grooves inthe jaws for transmitting said circumferential squeezing and integratingsimultaneous movement of said cannula and catheter when a venipunctureis being made.

5. Intravenous catheter apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein saidseparate, removable, mechanical gripping means comprises a rigid bandreleasably surrounding the jaws and normally radially urging them ingripping relationship with said catheter, said rigid band beingremovable from the jaws so the jaws can swing open for removal of thehub from the catheter.

6. Intravenous catheter apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein thehub includes a base wall with upstanding arms on opposite sides of saidcatheter, a lid pivotally connected to these arms and adapted to swinglongitudinally along the catheter toward said base wall to grip saidcatheter between said lid and said base wall.

7. lntravenous catheter apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein thebase wall has a second set of upstanding arms on opposite sides of saidcatheter, and said means is a cam member removably connected to saidsecond set of upstanding arms, said cam member forcing said lid tosqueeze said catheter against said base wall.

8. intravenous catheter apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein theflexible sheath is gripped between said lid and base wall.

9. intravenous catheter apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein theflexible sheath is gripped on opposite sides of the catheter by a lugand cavity construction in the lid and base wall.

10. intravenous catheter apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein thehub includes a base wall, a pair of upstanding arms on opposite sides ofthe catheter, a lid pivotaily connected to one arm and adapted to swingtransversely across said catheter and grip said catheter between the lidand said base wall, and releasable catch means on the other arm to holdsaid lid in gripping relationship with said catheter.

l1. Intravenous catheter apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein theflexible sheath is gripped between said lid and base wall.

[2. Intravenous catheter apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein theflexible sheath is gripped on opposite sides of the catheter by a lugand cavity construction in the lid and base wall.

13. Intravenous catheter apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein thecatheter is substantially longer than the cannula and wherein theapparatus has a flexible wire connected at one end to the cannula, whichwire extends outwardly through a bore of the catheter for pulling thecannula out of the catheter.

l4. Intravenous catheter apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein theflexible sheath is removable from the hub.

15. intravenous catheter apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein thecatheter has a hollow adapter on an end of the catheter within saidflexible sheath, and wherein the apparatus includes a removable closurefor said hollow adapter.

[6. Intravenous catheter apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which saidcatheter is substantially longer than said cannula and a pointed end ofsaid cannula of said cannula protrudes from a forward end of thecatheter; a flexible wire with one end attached to the cannula andextending through a bore of the catheter for retracting said cannularearwardly through said catheter, said catheter-wire-cannula combinationbeing rigid along the cannula length and flexible rearward of saidcannula.

l7. Intravenous catheter apparatus as set forth in claim 16 wherein thehub and flexible sheath are removable from the combination.

18. Intravenous catheter apparatus as set forth in claim 16 wherein thewire has a handle means attached to an end of the wire opposite thewires cannula attached end.

19. Intravenous catheter apparatus as set forth in claim 16 wherein thecatheter has a hollow adapter on an end of the catheter with saidflexible sheath and the apparatus includes a removable closure for saidhollow adapter.

20. Intravenous catheter apparatus comprising: a rigid puncturingcannula; a flexible catheter telescoped on an outside surface of thepuncturing cannula, said catheter being substantially longer than saidcannula and having a pointed end of said cannula protruding from aforward end of the catheter; a flexible wire with one end attached tothe cannula and extending through a bore of the cannula for retractingsaid cannula through said catheter, said cathetenwire-cannulacombination being rigid along the length of said cannula but flexiblerearward of said cannula; a grasping hub connected to the rigid portionof the catheter-wire-cannula combination; a flexible inner sheathconnected between the catheter and the wire and adapted to encase saidwire as this wire is pulled out of the catheters bore; and a flexibleouter sheath encasing the inner sheath and the flexible portion of thecatheter-wire-cannula combination.

2!. Intravenous catheter apparatus as set forth in claim 20 wherein theapparatus has a cannula housing removably attached to a rear of thecatheter.

22. Intravenous catheter apparatus as set forth in claim 21 wherein thecannula housing is encased in the inner flexible sheath.

23 intravenous catheter apparatus as set forth in claim 2! wherein thecannula housing has a mouth closed off by a closure with said wirepassing through an opening in said closure, said opening beingsufficiently small so the closure can act as a stop against a shoulderat a rear end of the cannula caused by the cannula having a largeroutside diameter than said wire.

24. Intravenous catheter apparatus as set forth in claim 23 wherein theclosure is a resilient diaphragm through which the wire is threaded.

1. Intravenous catheter apparatus comprising: a rigid puncturingcannula; a flexible catheter telescoped on an outside surface of saidcannula; a removable hub circumposed about said catheter and including aseparate, displacable mechanical griping means on said hub for urgingthe hub and catheter to a fixed relation to at least a portion of thecannula and circumferentially squeezing the catheter against the cannulato continuously prevent relative longitudinal movement therebetween,said hub having opposed separable gripping surfaces displacable fromeach other upon displacement of the mechanical gripping means andrelease of the circumferential squeezing by said mechanical grippingmeans to permit relative longitudinal separation of the catheter andcannula; and a flexible sheath attached to said hub for protecting thecatheter portion which extends rearwardly beyond said hub. 2.Intravenous catheter apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the hubincludes a pair of hinged jaws having gripping surfaces in opposedlongitudinal grooves in the jaws.
 3. Intravenous catheter apparatus asset forth in claim 2, wherein the hub is of polypropylene and has anintegral polypropylene hinge between the jaws.
 4. Intravenous catheterapparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the hub includes asheath-receiving portion which has an opening extending therethrough forpassage of the catheter, said sheath-receiving portion having a bottomjaw of the hub rigidly attached thereto and said hub having a top jawhingedly attached thereto on a transverse, chordally-disposed integralhinge portion, said top and bottom jaws having gripping surfaces inlongitudinal opposed grooves in the jaws for transmitting saidcircumferential squeezing and integrating simultaneous movement of saidcannula and catheter when a venipuncture is being made.
 5. Intravenouscatheter apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said separate,removable, mechanical gripping means comprises a rigid band releasablysurrounding the jaws and normally radially urging them in grippingrelationship with said catheter, said rigid band being removable fromthe jaws so the jaws can swing open for removal of the hub from thecatheter.
 6. Intravenous catheter apparatus as set forth in claim 1wherein the hub includes a base wall with upstanding arms on oppositesides of said catheter, a lid pivotally connected to these arms andadapted to swing longitudinally along the catheter toward said base wallto grip said catheter between said lid and said base wall. 7.Intravenous catheter apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein the basewall has a second set of upstanding arms on opposite sides of saidcatheter, and said means is a cam member removably connected to saidsecond set of upstanding arms, said cam member forcing said lid tosqueeze said catheter against said base wall.
 8. Intravenous catheterapparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein the flexible sheath is grippedbetween said lid and base wall.
 9. Intravenous catheter apparatus as setforth in claim 8 wherein the flexible sheath is gripped on oppositesides of the catheter by a lug and cavity construction in the lid andbase wall.
 10. Intravenous catheter apparatus as set forth in claim 1wherein the hub includes a base wall, a pair of upstanding arms onopposite sides of the catheter, a lid pivotally connected to one arm andadapted to swing transversely across said catheter and grip saidcatheter between the lid and said base Wall, and releasable catch meanson the other arm to hold said lid in gripping relationship with saidcatheter.
 11. Intravenous catheter apparatus as set forth in claim 10wherein the flexible sheath is gripped between said lid and base wall.12. Intravenous catheter apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein theflexible sheath is gripped on opposite sides of the catheter by a lugand cavity construction in the lid and base wall.
 13. Intravenouscatheter apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the catheter issubstantially longer than the cannula and wherein the apparatus has aflexible wire connected at one end to the cannula, which wire extendsoutwardly through a bore of the catheter for pulling the cannula out ofthe catheter.
 14. Intravenous catheter apparatus as set forth in claim 1wherein the flexible sheath is removable from the hub.
 15. Intravenouscatheter apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the catheter has ahollow adapter on an end of the catheter within said flexible sheath,and wherein the apparatus includes a removable closure for said hollowadapter.
 16. Intravenous catheter apparatus as set forth in claim 1 inwhich said catheter is substantially longer than said cannula and apointed end of said cannula of said cannula protrudes from a forward endof the catheter; a flexible wire with one end attached to the cannulaand extending through a bore of the catheter for retracting said cannularearwardly through said catheter, said catheter-wire-cannula combinationbeing rigid along the cannula length and flexible rearward of saidcannula.
 17. Intravenous catheter apparatus as set forth in claim 16wherein the hub and flexible sheath are removable from the combination.18. Intravenous catheter apparatus as set forth in claim 16 wherein thewire has a handle means attached to an end of the wire opposite thewire''s cannula attached end.
 19. Intravenous catheter apparatus as setforth in claim 16 wherein the catheter has a hollow adapter on an end ofthe catheter with said flexible sheath and the apparatus includes aremovable closure for said hollow adapter.
 20. Intravenous catheterapparatus comprising: a rigid puncturing cannula; a flexible cathetertelescoped on an outside surface of the puncturing cannula, saidcatheter being substantially longer than said cannula and having apointed end of said cannula protruding from a forward end of thecatheter; a flexible wire with one end attached to the cannula andextending through a bore of the cannula for retracting said cannulathrough said catheter, said catheter-wire-cannula combination beingrigid along the length of said cannula but flexible rearward of saidcannula; a grasping hub connected to the rigid portion of thecatheter-wire-cannula combination; a flexible inner sheath connectedbetween the catheter and the wire and adapted to encase said wire asthis wire is pulled out of the catheter''s bore; and a flexible outersheath encasing the inner sheath and the flexible portion of thecatheter-wire-cannula combination.
 21. Intravenous catheter apparatus asset forth in claim 20 wherein the apparatus has a cannula housingremovably attached to a rear of the catheter.
 22. Intravenous catheterapparatus as set forth in claim 21 wherein the cannula housing isencased in the inner flexible sheath.
 23. Intravenous catheter apparatusas set forth in claim 21 wherein the cannula housing has a mouth closedoff by a closure with said wire passing through an opening in saidclosure, said opening being sufficiently small so the closure can act asa stop against a shoulder at a rear end of the cannula caused by thecannula having a larger outside diameter than said wire.
 24. Intravenouscatheter apparatus as set forth in claim 23 wherein the closure is aresilient diaphragm through which the wire is threaded.